About Us

Introduction

The THE AFRICA FASHION EXCHANGE is a market intelligence, thought-leadership, business exchange and market access platform program driven by the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council. It is key to the survival of the Fashion Industry in the Province, the country and the continent. It is envisaged to solve the most inherent challenge of the industry, with most of South African and African designers not getting the necessary exposure and platforms to market their products, exchange business ideas and set the agenda for the fashion sector in sub-Saharan Africa. This has resulted in African designers being less competitive to designers found in Europe, Asia and, and hence contributing to the decline of the Industry.

Objectives

To serve as a vehicle to enhance the ability of the sector to become globally competitive.

To serve as a vehicle for African and Africa-facing value chain integration.
To provide KwaZulu-Natal, South African and African designers with a platform to boost their business and brand labels to gain access to national, continental and international markets.

To provide an arena that is conducive for business to business meetings, networking opportunities and linkages with retailers and buyers to increase domestic and continental market share.

To open opportunities for mentorships, collaboration and business opportunities for participating designers.

To enhance the tourism and creative calendar for the province further contributing to job creation.

To identify KZN and South Africa’s top new and emerging talent and to nurture new and young design talent into world class brands that have the capability of competing nationally and globally.

To create opportunities for other industries directly or indirectly linked to the fashion industry.

To showcase design and creative arts within the province.

To forge business relations between macro and small businesses within KZN, South Africa and Africa.

Warm Durban Greetings,
On behalf of the KZN Fashion Council we would like to extend the attached invite for Pure London trade show to designers under the National and Provincial Fashion Councils.
We look forward to the good response and eagerness from the ESTABLISHED designers.
The KZN Fashion Council will be arranging a pavilion to PURE LONDON 2018 which take place in London AROUND END July 2018.
Pure London is the UK’s leading fashion buying event. High calibre fashion buyers from independent and department stores, multiples and e-tailers attend each season, not only to source brands, but also place orders. WESITE: www.purelondon.com
KZNFC is in the process of applying for Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS) funding for the above-mentioned show and this funding will cover the following costs for exhibitors:
- 100% of the costs of return flights;
- 100% of the costs of ground transport;
- 100% of the rental of the stand;
- 100% of the cost of accommodation;
- 100% of the costs related to the transport of the product to trade show and back;
Please note that approved Well Established companies will be required to pay a R3 000 administration fee to KZNFC. This amount will only be required once the DTI have approved the funding and your company name is included on the approval letter.
Please confirm if you are interested in attending this event by e-mailing Nomqhele Ndlovu at ackie@kznfc.org and we will send you the required application form and checklist.
Please note that the completed SSAS application form, together with supporting documentation, must be submitted by no later than the 2ND FEBRUARY 2018 4PM SHARP!

From over 400 entries received across South Africa, twelve South African fashion industry creatives have been selected to participate in the Threads Accelerator programme, which kicks off this week.
The finalists certainly represent the inspiring diversity of the South African fashion aesthetic - from designers of maternity wear, modesty wear and luxury women ranges, to belts and handbag design houses and denim wear designers, the participants in the inaugural Threads programme have one thing in common – they are each running fashion businesses with enormous potential to become major industry power players.
“Selecting the finalists from the deluge of entries we received was thrilling and somewhat overwhelming – we really had our work cut out for us in whittling the list down to the final 12” comments Tania Habimana, co-founder of the Threads programme “The creativity in the South African fashion industry is world class - all that these entrepreneurs really need is the vital sales, administrative, financial, and marketing rigor that’ll take their businesses to the next level. We at Threads, alongside with our sponsor Standard Bank, and partner Mercedes-Benz, cannot wait to commence this journey with these very deserving entrepreneurs.”
The 12 participants of the Threads – Stitched by Standard Bank accelerator programme are:
1. Anthony Smith of 2Bop – street wear label based in Cape Town. They manufacture and produce headwear, apparel and accessories.
2. Majda Rabin of Chimpel – a Cape Town based luxury leather accessories (belts and handbags) design house. Website: www.chimpel.co.za, Instagram @Chimpel_South Africa, Facebook Chimpel – Luxury Leather Accessories, Twitter @ChimpelM
3. Evans Zemba of Walk In Closet (WIC) Designs, a Port Elizabeth based men & womens leisurewear fashion house , Instagram @wicdesigns
4. Thabo Makhetha of Thabo Makhetha an African luxury brand, well known for her Basotho blanket “Kobo” creations, the brand’s Classic Starburst piece, was nominated for the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa 2016(MBOISA) at the Design Indaba. Website – Thabomakhetha.com, Instagram @Tmakcc
5. Junior Mmotla of MAMAGASEHOME, a men & womans streetwear fashion range - Twitter/Instagram @Mamagasehome
6. Yamkela Lize of Refined Revolt, an East-London based textile designer and handbag accessory manufacturer. Twitter & Instagram - @refinedrevolt, website www.refinedrevolt.com
7. Asanda Mali of Mal’stones – a Port Elizabeth based body-positive women’s wear fashion house. Instagram/Twitter - @Malstones
8. Tshego Manche of La Manche Clothing a Joburg based premium womanswear fashion house. Instagram - @lamancheofficial, Facebook - La Manche, twitter @LaMancheSA
9. Jacqueline Munsami of JSE Couture – a Durban based fashion house that has three lines, Jacqui Emmanuel Couture, Jacqui Emmanuel Pret n’ Porter and Emmanuel Sportsluxe. Their prints are exclusive to their label, as are their laser cuts, embroidery and embossing. Instagram: @Emmaneulsportsluxe, Facebook Jacqui Emmanel ii, Website www.jacquiemmanuel.com
10. Lyndall Moodley of Hannah Grace Maternity, a Durban based maternity wear designed to provide expectant and nursing mothers with comfortable, affordable and versatile clothing. Website - www.hannahgrace-sa.com
11. Sabiha Badsha of Haya Collective , a Johannesburg based contemporary modest wear brand – website www.hayacollective.com , Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @HayaCollective
12. Tshepo Mohlala of Tshepo the Jeanmaker – a premium lifestyle denim brand with strong roots in South Africa.

Today is an honor for the KZNFC to announce that our development and mentorship beneficiary designer @Samuel Lebakeng Mosala has made it to the top 3 of the Intern South Africa. The KZNFC would like to thank him for all his hard work, and determination. Tonight let us all join in and help @samuellebakeng bring The Intern South Africa title home. All you have to is Tweet and Facebook #TeamSam

Durban Designer Treasure Cindy is looking for an Assisting fashion Intern who understands basics in pattern making/cutting️ / Garment Technology🖍 / Grading and Garment construction.
Could be fresh from college or experienced person.
Has to be in Durban and easy to get to the Musgrave area.
Please urgently mail Treasure if you are interested with documents fitting requirements and think you could kill this thing 💯.
treasurecindi@gmail.com
Subject :Assisting fashion intern

The THE AFRICA FASHION EXCHANGE is a market intelligence, thought-leadership, business exchange and market access platform program driven by the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council. It is key to the survival of the Fashion Industry in the Province, the country and the continent. It is envisaged to solve the most inherent challenge of the industry, with most of South African and African designers not getting the necessary exposure and platforms to market their products, exchange business ideas and set the agenda for the fashion sector in sub-Saharan Africa.